Grizzly Peak Loop Trail

June 23 ,2019

Over the last month we have hiked many local trails enjoying what has become an amazing year for wildflowers. The extra rains we got in Southern Oregon have brought out wildflowers in numbers that we have never seen.  But alas, Spring is over and Summer is upon us.  But there are still places to hike with lots of wildflowers.  The Grizzly Peak trail in Ashland is such a place and since we didn't hike there last year, it was time to go back to one of our favorite trails.

Loop trail at the top heading through Antelope Fire burn area

Wild Ginger --- look for the heart shaped leaves of the plant.

This trail has almost everything you could want - a short road to the trailhead, two parking lots, restroom, and portions of trail that take you through Old Growth Forest, meadows, former burned areas and high desert-like areas of rocky soil.  The first mile is a slight uphill trek on long switchbacks where most of the shade loving flowers are found and the loop at the top is 3.5 miles and can be done in either direction -- we went left today to hike clockwise.

The loop begins - decision time.

Someone heading out for breakfast

Columbine

In addition to the various landscapes along the trail, you are also treated to views of Mt Shasta, Mt Ashland, Pilot Rock, and Mt McLoughlin.  The hike usually takes 2-3 hours depending on how much time you take for the views, wildflowers, or just stopping to enjoy the sound of silence or the wind.   Hope you enjoy the flower pictures, but try to get out and enjoy them in person while they last.  

Trekking Together

Glenn and Carol

False Solomon Seal

Meadow Chickweed

Fleabane

Balsamroot with an insect photo-bomber

Horsemint

Wild Onions

White Brodiaea

Common Camas

One of our favorites to find, Striped Coralroot

Boccard Point

June 16, 2018

Over the last month we have read numerous blog postings about hiking to Boccard Point from fellow local hikers and hiking clubs.  All that psychological warfare finally took effect and we headed out for a 10+ mile hike along the PCT and Boccard Point trail to see what all the fuss was about.

Hobart Bluff TH of the PCT - notice the clouds in the background!

One of the highlights of this hike happened before we even began hiking.  As we drove the access road off highway 66 to get to the trailhead, we say deer cross the road and one remain on the road right in front of us.  We also saw something trotting along and crossing the road behind the deer.  As we got closer to the deer on the road, another animal trotted across the road ahead of us -- a wolf!  Yup, we evidently got a rare glimpse of some wolves that are in the Southern Oregon/Northern California area.  Amazing!  The deer in front of us did quickly depart - opposite direction of the wolves and our car.

Hiking into the clouds and through the wind.

Indian Paintbrush was everywhere on this hike.

Columbine also made numerous appearances along the trail

Ok, now to the hike.  When we arrived at the Hobart Bluff TH on the PCT, we were immersed in clouds and the wind was really blowing.  The first hour of our hike was like hiking at the coast.  We had double shirts and jackets on and were still freezing!  It also cut out the various views of meadows and valleys that are featured along this section of the PCT.  Fortunately many portions of the trail went through forested areas which helped to cut down the wind.

Beautiful beautiful area!

VIew of Pilot Rock from Boccard Point trail

As we finished our cloudy & windy 3 mile hike south on the PCT, we connected to the Boccard Point trail which rambles slowly uphill for 2.2 miles, finishing as one might suspect, at Boccard Point.  At times this trail was hard to follow as it appeared that no maintenance had been done recently, but as the sun came out we managed our way to the point and took time to enjoy views of Mt Shasta, the Irongate Reservoir, and Pilot Rock.  We even had our own little stone bench slightly below the point where we took a break out of the wind and enjoyed the newly arrived sunshine and blue sky.

Our natural stone bench break area.

View of Boccard Point with snow covered Mt Shasta in the distance

Trail just below Boccard Point

Usually on an out-and-back hike, the return hike is pretty much the same, just in reverse.  But since we didn't get to see much on the hike out due to clouds, the hike back provided us with lots of opportunities to see the surrounding valleys, large meadows, and enjoy many many beautiful wildflowers --  a few that were new to us.  The Soda Mountain Wilderness is an incredibly beautiful area with such diversity in wildflowers.  Pictures just don't do justice, nor words, to depict how beautiful this hike was in regards to the flora.

Heading through one of the forested areas.

Trail shot through one of many large meadows

Another beautiful large meadow just off trail

We both felt pretty good even after the 10.4 mile hike and no wolves were seen on the drive back out to highway 66.  For those of you who enjoy wildflowers, we have included some pictures from this hike at the bottom of this posting for your viewing pleasure.  Of course getting out and seeing them yourself before they are gone, is even better.  Hope you get a chance to do so.

Trekking Together
Glenn and Carol

 

Pilot Rock

April 14, 2018

Pilot Rock is a well known landmark here in Southern Oregon and played a role in helping guide pioneers who migrated north from California on the Applegate Trail. Yet during all of our hiking days here in Southern Oregon, we have only viewed it from other hikes and never hiked along the short but steep trail leading to it's base.  We decided to change that today.

At the start of the Pilot Rock trail and ready to go!

After driving south on I-5 and then along the old highway 99, we followed a rough 2-mile stretch of Pilot Rock Road 40-2E-33 to the relatively new parking lot that used to be an old quarry.  From the trailhead we, along with Glenn's sister Karen and our dog Katie, headed out on the trail with the sight of Pilot Rock looming in the distance.

Pilot Rock looms

The trail was in good shape and started out as a slow slight incline as we slowly worked our way up the slope.  We soon came across a few lingering patches of snow which Katie took advantage of by rolling and frolicking through.  Please note, no other hikers followed Katie in this moment of exuberance, but it was tempting.

Trail view

Katie in heaven on a large patch of snow.

Eventually our trail came to an intersection with the PCT which we followed with a left turn.  The trail now began to gain elevation and became quite steep for this last mile of the hike. At points the trail was a series of rock steps put on the trail to help against erosion (and maybe to help hikers not "slide" down the trail on the descent).  Soon a series of switchbacks ensued to increase the climb until we came to the base of Pilot Rock.

And on to the PCT we go...

Rock step portion of trail

View over the valley as we near the base of Pilot Rock

The look up was incredible and Pilot Rock is huge  -- much bigger viewed at the base than from the freeway or other trails in the distance.  The thought of scrambling up to the top never entered our minds once we arrived at the base despite a few folks coming done from having done so.  NO WAY!  Climbing up would be bad enough, but coming down again in reverse?

View of Pilot Rock from the base.  The climb up is along the crevice in the middle.  Not Happening!

After straining our necks to look up and taking some pictures, it was time to head back down (down being the key word) the trail.  We did see some Snow Queen and Yellow Bell wildflowers along the trail, but as Spring progresses we are sure more wildflowers will make their appearance.

Yellow Bells made an appearance along the trail

A small pond created by snow melt runoff

Well, another new hike in the books for 2018.  If you haven't hiked to the base of Pilot Rock, we highly recommend it, but be prepared for a steep climb. It is one of those amazing sights in Southern Oregon that you need to see in person. Be sure to let us know if you scramble to the top!


Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol

Green Springs Mountain Loop Trail

May 1, 2016

We have hiked at various places in or around the Ashland area such as Grizzly Peak, Oredson Todd Woods, Lithia Creek, Ashland Meadows and Wagner Butte, but have never hiked trails near or around the Green Springs Summit.  So when our sister Karen wanted to join us for a hike, we decided to head for the Summit and try a new short loop trail called the Green Springs Mountain Loop.

A sign that says "it's time to hike".

 Although the Pacific Crest Trail has been around for some time, a few years ago a connector trail was added which connects two points of the PCT to form a loop.  Although only 2.9 miles long, the loop allows you the opportunity to hike the PCT and get a sampling of the beauty in this area.  It's also a great hike for the family.

A birdseye view of where we were and the loop trail

After taking a few short side roads from the summit on Highway 66, we arrived at the trailhead parking lot which has room for about 6 vehicles.  It was just a short walk down the road to where the Pacific Crest Trail comes across the road and heads north to start our hike.

The PCT quickly arrives at a "fork in the road" and you can hike the loop in either direction.  We decided to hike counter-clockwise and start with the connector trail and then hike the PCT south back to the starting point.

Blue skies and white puffy clouds - beautiful day for a hike!

The connector trail is a mere .75 miles but takes you through beautiful wooded areas where we saw Trilliums, Snow Queen and Yellow Violets along the trail.  We did have to cross a few down trees, but that is typical this early in the hiking season.  We also had to pass through one gate which was either to keep cows out or the hikers in - not sure which.

Katie leading the way through one of the meadows on the PCT

It didn't take long till we intersected with the PCT again.  You can continue north on the PCT from here and hike a couple of miles to Hyatt Lake, but for our hike we made a left hand turn and took the PCT south for about 2 miles till it met the connector trail intersection to complete the loop.

Mission Bells

Even though some parts were through wooded areas again, the trail does take you through a couple of meadows that allow you wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and Pilot Rock.  We saw a few more varieties of wildflowers in these meadows like Larkspur, Fawn Lilies, and Ballhead Waterleaf. We were even treated to a pair of Mission Bell flowers --  a sight we have seen very few times while hiking.

View of Pilot Rock

When our loop was completed, it was just a short hike down the road and back to our car.  Our hike lasted a mere 90 minutes but provided us with some wonderful views, beautiful woods and flowers, and whetted our appetite to return to the summit and hike the PCT to either Hyatt Lake (north) or Hobart Bluff (south).  Look for that posting in the near future.

Trekking Together
Glenn & Carol